VEGAS Pro 15 Edit Steam Edition: Poor Preview Performance (Lagging)

Evgeny wrote on 4/13/2025, 9:36 PM

I am experiencing very poor preview quality, even with 1080p projects from my GoPro. I suspect that Vegas Pro is attempting to use a secondary GPU, which is not designed for video processing. This secondary GPU is an IPMI interface (ASPEED AST2500 BMC) for remote management on my Supermicro C9X299-PG300F motherboard.
During the preview, my primary GPU and CPU remain underutilized, with their load staying below 10%. While proxy files help, they are excessively pixelated and barely usable. Unfortunately, I cannot disable IPMI in my system as it is essential for my setup.
Could you assist me in configuring Vegas Pro to use my primary GPU (Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) for preview processing?
Here are my system specifications:
Processor: Intel Core i9-9980XE (18 cores/36 threads)
RAM: 128GB
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Storage: Two NVMe Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB (one for OS and program files, the other dedicated to Vegas Pro projects and media files)
Thank you!

Comments

Gid wrote on 4/14/2025, 12:59 AM

@Evgeny Hi, modern GoPros create MP4 HEVC (H.265) & there's no choice about that, but at some point GoPros did use MP4 AVC (H.264) & it appears there was a point in their development that you had a choice - AVC or HEVC.

GoPro switched from the AVC (H.264) video codec to the HEVC (H.265) codec in 2018 with the release of the GoPro HERO7 Black. Earlier models primarily used H.264, while the HERO7 Black and later models offered the option to record in H.265. HEVC offers more efficient compression, meaning smaller file sizes and higher quality.

(I had a GoPro Hero 4 & updated that to a GoPro Hero 11 so I missed this transition.)

All software will work very well with MP4 AVC (H.264) but some older software will struggle with the more modern MP4 HEVC (H.265).

For me Vegas18, 19, 20 & into 21 played GoPros HEVC very poorly, Since Vegas21 (build 300) they play as well as MP4 AVC, so much so I don't notice the difference between AVC & HEVC & have switched my phone to record HEVC so my media matches.

So what I'm saying is that I doubt there is anything you can do with your PC or VEGAS Pro 15 that will improve your performance. Either see if you have an older GoPro that allows you to record in MP4 AVC (H.264), convert your files to AVC if they are HEVC or work out why your Vegas proxies are poor quality.

Dexcon wrote on 4/14/2025, 2:06 AM

As per @Gid 's comments, HEVC (H.265) media performs poorly in Vegas Pro versions prior to 21.300 (though I had to roll back to 21.208 for another reason). HEVC works much better in Vegas Pro 22.

@Evgeny ... you could always install the trial version of Vegas Pro 22 and test it with your GoPro media to see if there is a performance improvement. Scroll down towards the bottom of Vegas Pro 22's product webpage for the link to the 30 days free trial version.

With GoPro, prior to version 11 I was using GoPro 8 - it definitely has MP4 AVC as a format choice.

diverG wrote on 4/14/2025, 4:15 AM

Maybe use "shutter encoder" to convert your files to a format V15 can handle. Proress. or cineform.avi. OK big files but at least you can complete your project.

Shutter encoder is free. If it does the job donate a cup of coffee.

Evgeny wrote on 4/14/2025, 11:27 AM

Thank you all for your suggestions! I plan to try the trial version of Vegas Pro 22 to see if it resolves the issue. If it doesn't, I'll explore alternative formats or troubleshoot my proxy files.

I truly appreciate your quick responses and support!

RogerS wrote on 4/14/2025, 11:11 PM

If you share mediaInfo for your file we may have ideas for why it's not working well: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/faq-how-to-post-mediainfo-and-vegas-pro-file-properties--104561/

For proxy files I view them in preview/full mode and don't find them excessively pixelated.